Mail box



Sept. 1s, 192s. l 1,684,513

T. L. PARKER MAIL BOX 111161001. 4, 1924 5 sheets-sheet 1 3Q [WF1 67 /1 Sept. 18, 1928.

T. L. PARKER MAIL BOX Filed 001'.. 4, 1924 3 Asheets-sheet 2 \\\\\\\\w .lll IhII/II.. .Jwellllv W MM i sw? Z J ,4% w J Sept- 18, 1928 l.. PARKER MAIL. BOX

Filed oct. 4, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFTCE.r

THOMAS L. PARKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 THE STANDARD ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. COREORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MAIL BOX.

Application filed October e, 1924.-. Serial No. 741,700.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as mail boxes and the like, and relates more particularly to box or .boxes for use in office buildings, residences, apartments and the like, for receiving mail, or for such other uses as it may be found adapted. The invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described which is simple, compact, convenient, durable, reliable, ellicient, attractive and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable. More particularly it relates to a mail box of large capacity in which `the carrier may deposit letters, cards, magazines, and even packages conveniently and rapidly, and in which the contents will be fully and completelyprotected until removed by the individual box owner or occupant. Tt has particularly as an object the construction wherein the carrier may open the boxes with a master key by unlocking one lock and deposit the mail for all of the boxes in the separate boxes and then lock the same up, and the individual owner may then open his individual box and have access to his individual mail.,- It is also constructed so that peddlers, canvassers and distributors generally cannot deposit circulars, samples and undesirable matter to the annoyance of the box holder. It has also as an object the production of a box in which the contents are entirely protected from dust, dirt and the weather. Among its further objects is the production of a` box of the kind described which is preferably made up in a series of units, one or more of which may be associated and secured together soas to form a unitary construction consisting ofthe desired number of boxes arranged in sets or banks. Many other objects and advantages of t-he construction herein shown and described Will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown` and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

V In the drawings, wherein like reference characters Vindicate like or corresponding parts: v

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a. bank of boxes;

Fig. 2 is a. top eleva-tion of the same;

Fig. Bis a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4: of Fig. 2;

Fig 5 is a sectional view taken-substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a sectionalview taken substantially on line 6 6 ofFig-4; j Y

Fig 7 isa sectional view taken substantially on line 7V-7 of Fig. ll; and y Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the dra-wings, in which the preferred embodiment of the invent-ion is shown, I have illustrated a bank of three boxes, it being understood that itis immaterial how many boxes make up a bank or set. It may likewise be mentioned thatgenerally I preferA to make the same in units so that they may be installed with one, two or more units to make up the bank. Y

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 7, 1 represents a frameA or face plate, which plate may be in common for all the boxes, or. as shown, individual for each unit. At the back of the face plate is a container 9. consisting of three walls and a bottom, together with a top `(not shown), if desired, the face plate making the front wall. rIhe particular plate shown is provided with inturned flanges 3 about a portion of the front door openings` as will behereinafter described, and the outer edge is preferably rounded or turned back, as indicated at 4. The parts 2 are secured to the flanges 3 at the sides, top and `bottom vof the plate at the openings, and the several units secured together by the bars 5 and 6 extending across the bank and secured to the upper flange 8 and lower flange 6 at the door openings.

There are provided two sets of doors, one master locked, the-key to which is carried by the mail carrier, and the other to which the box user has his individual key. The construction is such that the carrier may vby unlocking. one box simultaneously unlock others in the bank at the same time where there are several boxes in a bank,`.the individual box user being able to unlock only his own box. y i

4 As shown, the panel is provided with door openings 9 forthe master doors `11, which are arrangedto be lockedand unlocked by the mail carrier, and with door openings l() provided with individual doors 19. foreach individual box user, each individual door being provided with its separate lock 13, while the doors l1 are provided with a lock 14 in common. The doors may be hinged and supported in any suitable manner, the preferred construction consisting of a rod 17 for each unit, to which the doors are secured, t-he same V i tively connected together-by a. simple con- Figs. 1 and 8, I have provided the center.

y aient means.

struction consisting of the arms 19 pivotally connected to bar20 and 21. Obviously, opening one door, for example the one which is locked, simultaneously opens the associated doors connected to the bar 20. As shown in door with a lock 25, the same having a lock -bar 24 which engages in a notch 23 in the bar 20; and the bar 22 may be also notched, the construction being such that when the lock bar 24 is in operative position as shown, it engages in the notches and 23 and prevents any movement of the bar 20.

I have also provided additional locking means for the doors 11 adapted to engage and lock the free edges, thereby preventing the door being bent at the hinges. As shown, each door is provided with a latching element 28 provided with a lug 29 adapted to engage with a notch 32 on a lock bar `30, the lock bar beingcut away as indicated at 31 (see Fig. 4). The lock bars 30 are each slidablymounted on theflanges 3 atthe door opening, a pin and slot connection`33f-34 being shown. Each bar is provided with an extending portion 35, and preferably formed with the lugs 86-37- The extending portion 37 is secured to a bar 38 by screws 39 or equiv- The opposite extension 36 is slidably mounted on a post 40, a spring 41 being interposed between the extension 36 and the end of the post. The spring tends to force the bar 38 carrying the members 3() downwardly and maintain the same substantially as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 4when the `boxes are unlocked. lVhen the doors are shut,

however, the box locked, the lock bar 24 is thrown upwardly and engages with the rod 38 (see Figs. 3 and 8), lift-ing bar 38 and with it the locking members 30. The lock bars 30 then engage with the lugs 29 and maintain all the doors closed and locked at their free edges. i

It may be mentioned that the postal carrier may carry a master key for all the boxes on his route, the partioularlock-25 being generally furnished by the Post Office Department, the requirements calling for an oflicial lock.

key changes to avoid the possibility of one user being able to open an adjacent box. It

is not necessary to describe these locks in del tail as they may be as desired, that shown being provided with a spring latch member 46 thereon, with a space 49 in which the apart ment number or letter or identifying character may be placed. The same are also shown provided with slots 50,V and in this connection I prefer to make these slots only of suchV size thata card or the like maybeinsei'ted, thereby preventing canvassers, peddlers and other people from fillingthe box with circulars. The same isalso provided with a sight opening 51, if desired, through which the user may observe whetheror not there is any mail in the boX. Y

The particular boxes shown are provided with speaking tube mouth pieces 52 and push buttons 53, 54 representing the shank extending back into which the bell wiresv are attached in the usual manner.- Any equivalent constructions may be embodiedin the boxes. I have not considered it necessary vto describe in detail how the box may be mounted, but in 1 I have illustrated, at 55 a portion of the building wall or support made up as desired, and to which the casings may be secured by screws or by bolts or any equiv alent fastening means. It may be mentioned lim that I generally prefer to securethe lock 25 'ceive nuts at theouter side of the lock body or casing. In case thelock does notfunction, it is a simple matter' for the repair man 'to open the door of the compartment below to which the lock is applied and reach up and remove the nuts. Any equivalent fastening means, however, may be employed.

It will be noted by referring to Fig.` 1, as well as 3, that the box is substantially double the length of the usual-box, and is of a. larger capacity. This permitsthe placing of large mail matter therein, suchV as magazines, newspapers, packagesfetc., not possible in present constructions.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the 'exact form,construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim'as new and desire to secur by Letters Patent is:

1. Ina device of the kind described and y in combination, a receptacle provided with a plurality of doors and locking means for said doors, the locking means for one door comprising a lock bar arranged at the free edge of the door and a controlling bar mounted at the top edge of the door, a sliding bar operatively connected with the hinged edge ol the door, and means carried by the door for locking said bars in operative locking posit-ion, said door provided with means at the free edge for engaging the lockbar adjacent thereto.

2. In a device of the kind described and in combination, receptacles provided with a plurality of doors and locking means for said doors, the locking means for each door including a loclr bar arranged at the free edge of the door and engageable therewith and a controlling bar common to all doors mounted at the top edge of the doors, a sliding bar operatively connected with the hinged edge of the door, and means carried by one door for locking said bars in operative locking position, said door provided with means at the free edge for engaging the lock bar adjacent thereto.

3. In a device of the kind. described and in combination, a plurality of receptacles, a cover arrangedover the iront thereof for forming one side of said receptacles, said cover provided with a plurality of door openings adjacent the upper vpart of the receptacle, doors at said openings hinged at one side thereof and lock controlled means for locking said doors in closed position at opposite sides thereof, said locking means operatively connected with all oi the doors whereby opening or closing or locking one door will simultaneously control the opening, closing or locking or' the remaining doors, each receptacle provided with a door arranged below said rst-mentioned doors, each of said last-mentioned doors provided with its individual locking mechanism and operable independently or the other doors.

l. In a vdevice of the kind described and in combination, a plurality of receptacles, a cover arranged over the front of each for `lforming one side of each of said receptacles, means for securing said receptacles together, said covers each provided with a plurality of door openings adjacent the upper part of the receptacle, doors for said openings hinged at one side thereof and loclecontrolled means for locking said doors in closed position at opposite sides thereof, said locking means operatively connectedwith all of the doors whereby opening or closing or locking one door will simultaneously control the opening, closing or locking of the remaining doors, each receptacle provided with a door arranged below said first-mentioned doors, each of said last-mentioned doors provided with its individual locking mechanism and operable independently of the other doors.

5. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a series of receptacles, each of which is provided with a'door, a lreycontrolled lock associated with one ofsaid doors, a bar operatively connected to said loclr and controlling the opening and closing of all of said doors in unison, and additional locking means for said doors also acting in unison and controlled by said lock.

6. In a, device of the kind described and in combination, a series of receptacles, each of which is provided with a door, a key-coa trolled lock associated with one of said doors, a bar operatively connected with said lock and controlling the opening and closing of all of said doors in unison, and additional locking means for said doors also acting and controlled bysaid loch, said additional locking means engaging the free edges oil said doors.

7. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a series of receptacles, each of which is providedv with a door, a key-controlled lock associated with one of said doors, a bar operatively connected to said lock and controlling the opening and closing of all of said doors in unison, additional lockingl means for said doors also acting in unison and controlled by said lock, and a second door Y.tor each of said receptacles having independent locking` means.

8. In a device of the .kind described and in combination, a series of receptacles, each of which is provided with a door, a key-controlled lock associated with one of said doors, a bar operatively connected with said lock and controlling the opening and closing of all of said doors in unison, additional locking means for said doors also acting in unison and controlled by said lock, said additional loclring means engaging the free edges of said doors, and a second door for each of said receptacles having independent locking means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.V

THOMAS L. PARKER. 

